Immortality in Verse

Mukhtar Shakhanov, fearless poet and diplomat, dies at 83

Mukhtar Shakhanov, the renowned poet, playwright, diplomat, and public figure, has passed away at the age of 83.

A Meteoric Rise

His first poems were published when he was just 16. After the newspaper Leninskiy Put ran a feature on him, the young poet became the talk of the nation. Shakhanov later recalled that time: "When the editorial office invited me for a meeting, I didn't even own a suit, so I borrowed one from a shepherd I knew. I showed up in an oversized jacket with the trousers rolled up. Fame caught me off guard—over 400 letters poured in from across Kazakhstan. Later, the great composer Shamshi Kaldayakov and the akyn [folk poet] Tolegen Aibergenov even traveled to our village just to meet me."

This was the beginning of a lifelong friendship among three extraordinary artists. Shakhanov's mother held Shamshi and Tolegen in deep affection, calling them "bala"—"my sons."

Like many of his generation, Shakhanov endured a difficult childhood. Orphaned as a boy, he was the sole survivor among 13 siblings. As a teenager, he worked to support himself—first as a shepherd's assistant—before dropping out after the seventh grade. He later completed a tractor operator's course...

In 1966, his first poetry collection, symbolically titled Happiness, was published. It was followed by Ballads, The Moon Rises, Eagles Do Not Perch on Roofs, and The Realm of Faith. His verses resonated deeply, earning widespread love and recognition. Among his most quoted and beloved works are "Tört Ana" (Four Mothers) and "Zhigerlendiru" (To Inspire).

"Tört Ana"—a profound and deeply meaningful poem—calls on readers to cherish their roots and honor their four "mothers": the native land, language, traditions, and history. His love for his homeland, his people, his native tongue, and its past was boundless. One of his most striking lines captures this devotion: "If the land where you ran barefoot through every corner means nothing to you, if you do not revere your people's customs or love your ancestral home, then you live in vain. Your heart will wither, your soul will harden, and the earth's generosity—its beauty, its abundance—will never be yours."

"Zhigerlendiru" may well be the greatest poetic call to action of all time. Few coaches, psychologists, or motivational speakers have ever managed to ignite in people such a fierce desire to live, to act, to believe—as Mukhtar Shakhanov did with these lines. Today, his verses have flooded social media, with people sharing personal stories of how his poetry once helped them overcome hardship, find faith in themselves, and summon the strength to go on. And how can one not recall, in this moment, the immortal lines from Alexander Pushkin's The Prophet: "Set hearts aflame with the power of the word..."

Shakhanov was a close friend of Chingiz Aitmatov, and their bond stood as a shining example of how creative kinship can bridge entire nations through art.

In one interview, Shakhanov himself reflected on their relationship: "We were as close as elder and younger brothers. His death was a crushing blow to me. Together, we wrote two works: the essay 'A Hunter's Lament Over the Abyss' and the play 'A Night of Remembrance for Socrates, or The Trial of the Thick-Skinned.' Now, Chingiz Aitmatov has begun a second life unlike any other..."

Yesterday, Kyrgyz media reported that Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov had sent a telegram of condolences to Kazakhstan's leader, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, following the passing of the eminent Kazakh poet, playwright, public figure, and National Writer of Kazakhstan, Mukhtar Shakhanov. The message read: "Mukhtar-aga was not only a pillar of the fraternal Kazakh people but also a spiritual guide for the multimillion-strong Kyrgyz nation. His poetic and civic voice—equally dear to both Kazakhs and Kyrgyz—resonated like the echo of mountains and steppes..."

Aitmatov's sister, Roza Aitmatova, also shared her condolences: "His contribution to culture and literature is immeasurable. For years, he was the living bridge between our peoples, a true ambassador of friendship. He earned the respect of both Kazakhs and Kyrgyz alike and rightfully bore the title of People's Poet."

Mukhtar Shakhanov possessed a profound inner world and a towering moral consciousness; his human dignity was boundless. His work awakened the conscience of humanity and enriched the spiritual life of his people. To our family, he was a dear friend and comrade. Shakhanov and my brother, Chingiz Aitmatov, together bore the spiritual weight of an entire era. His literary legacy will endure forever.

Mukhtar Shahanov was the recipient of countless honors: an academician of the International California Academy of Sciences, an honorary professor at several domestic and foreign academies and universities, and a laureate of the UN Environment Programme Award, the Lenin Komsomol Prizes of the USSR and Kazakhstan, as well as international awards such as "For Merits in the Turkic World" (Turkey) and "Ruhaniyat" (Kyrgyzstan). In 1997, the UNESCO club Booruker named him Central Asia's most compassionate person of the year, and in 2000, as the most widely read poet of the past decade, he received the independent Tarlan Award and was granted the title of Honorary Citizen of Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic.

His work earned global recognition. His poem The Delusion of Civilization was translated into dozens of languages, and in March 1999, UNESCO hosted a presentation of the book at its Paris headquarters. In 2002, for his verse novel The Cosmoformula of Punishing Memory, Shahanov was awarded the Albert Einstein Gold Medal by the International California Academy of Science, Industry, Education, and Arts. Yet among all his titles, the most cherished were those of People's Poet of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Truth Above All

Shahanov was more than a poet—he was a fearless public figure who spoke out on issues critical to his country and people. In November 1987, at his initiative, the public committee Aral–Asia–Kazakhstan was founded to save the Aral Sea. He tirelessly pushed for the crisis to be recognized internationally, arguing during Kazakhstan's showcase events in the USSR that official decrees failed to address the real rescue of the sea or explore all possible solutions to the ecological disaster.

He was remembered as a man of unflinching honesty, unafraid to confront problems head-on. His most legendary moment came at the First Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR in 1989, when he became the first to publicly reveal the truth about the December 1986 events in Almaty. His words became iconic, still quoted today: "You can accuse five thousand, ten thousand people. But you cannot accuse the entire Kazakh nation."

Without hesitation, he condemned the brutal crackdown on youth, demanded the declassification of documents, and called for a fair assessment of the tragedy. It was then that he proposed granting Kazakh the status of a state language.

Video of his historic speech continues to garner millions of views. Nearly 40 years later, people still admire his courage. Though it was the era of glasnost and perestroika, few dared to criticize the authorities so openly.

He was immensely popular. In the early 2000s, as I was just starting my career in journalism, the news that Mukhtar Shakhanov would be visiting Taraz spread through the city like wildfire. A colleague from another newsroom and I went—not on assignment, but because our hearts called us there. The small assembly hall at the local university couldn't hold everyone who came. So many people turned out that they filled not just the hallway but spilled out onto the street in front of the building. We managed to squeeze inside, thanks to our press credentials. It was the first time I had witnessed such deep, genuine love from the people for him.

Shakhanov also served as a deputy in the Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakhstan's Parliament. He raised pressing issues, spoke about what truly mattered to the people, and to this day, many still remember this chapter of his career with the words: "Kara qyldy kara zharan Shakhanov"—"Shakhanov did what the common people needed." This phrase is reserved only for those who are truly just, for whom truth comes above all else.

Mukhtar Shakhanov's poetry resonated with millions of readers. As a true poet, he will live on forever, speaking to us through his works. Even decades after his passing, his verses will still touch the heart, stirring a spectrum of emotions—inspiring, awakening, and guiding us forward.

To close, I'll share his own words: "How fair life is! Time will be our judge. And each will find their rightful place."